Horse-detacher



Patented Sept. 27, I898.

J. B. TAYLOR. HORSE DETACHER.

(Application filed Nov. 22, 1897.)

(No Model.)

1702/75 3 775 mop z s JOHN B. TAYLOR, F LPALMYRA, MISSOURI.

HORSE-DETACH ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 611,342, dated September 27, 1898.

Application filed November 22, 1897. Serial No. 659,440. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern;

Be it known that I,JOHN B. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, rsidin g at Palmyra,

in the county of Marion and State of Mis souri, have invented a new and useful Horse- Detacher, of which the following is a specification.

cut and interlocking, the extreme levers re ceiving the traces, which are attached thereto, andthe intermediate lever maintaining the extreme levers in operative relation under normal conditions and under the control of the driver to release the extreme levers and permit the animal to leave the vehicle when not under control from any cause and tending to run away.

7 For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings andthe following description.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof; and to a full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of apair of thills or shafts, showing the application of the invention, the dotted lines representing the relation of the cooperating levers when released. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the thills on the line X X of Fig. 1, looking to the rear, as designated by the arrow. Fig. 3 is a detail section showing the stop applied to the singletree for preventing the unhitching of the horse when going downgrade. Fig. 4 is a detail view of a thill, showing the holdback and its iron. I

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in the several views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The shafts or thills 1 are of ordinary construction and are joined neartheir rear ends by the crossbar 2 in the usual way, and upon this cross-bar is mounted the singletree 3, the latter havingalimited oscillatory movement by means of the loops 4, encircling'the crossbar and singletree after the fashion generally practiced. A lever 5 is mounted upon the same bolt with the singletree 3, and its end portions are tapering. Other levers 6 are fulcrumed to the end portions of the singletree near their outer ends, and their inner ends overlap the end portions of the lever 5, the latter serving under normal conditions to maintain the levers 6 in an initial position. The outer ends of the levers 6 project beyond the singletree and have the traces connected therewith in the usual manner. The lever 5 is fulcrumed centrally, and the inner ends of the levers 6 engage therewith a like distance from its extremities, and when the load is applied to the outer ends of the levers 6 their inner ends are prevented from moving rearward by reason of the interlocking lever 5, as will be readily understood. A cord or strap 7 is secured to an end of the middle lever 5 and extends within convenient reach of the driver, to be pulled upon when the animal becomes unruly and tends to run away, so as to release it, to the safety of the vehicle and the occupants. A spring 8 is secured at one end to the lever 5, and its free end engages with one of the lovers 6, so as to retain the parts in operative relation when going downgrade. A stop 9, applied to the singletree and engaging with the inner end of the other lever 6, also servesto retain the parts in working relation when descending grade.

The holdback-straps 10 have their front ends slipped upon the thills or shafts and en gaged with irons 11, secured to the bottom side of the said thills, the front ends of the irons being open, so as to offer no obstruction to the slipping of the straps 10 when the animal is released upon pulling upon the cord or strap 7.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new'is 1.. In a mechanism for releasing ahorse from a vehicle, the combination with a singletree,

of levers fulcrumed near their outer ends to the end portions of the singletree and adapted to have the traces engaged therewith and having their inner ends spaced apart, and a middle lever fulerumed to the singletree about midway of the space formed between the inner ends of the outer levers and having its end portions overlapping the said inner ends of the outer levers and under the control of the driver to release the outer levers and the animal hitched thereto, substantially as set forth.

2. In means for detaching horses, the combination with a series of three levers having their opposing ends overlapping, the middle lever being under the control of the driver, and the outer levers adapted to have the traces hitched thereto, of a spring secured to the said middle lever and having its free end engaging with one of the end levers, substantially as set forth.

3. In means for detaching horses, the combination With a singletree, of a middle and end levers fulcrumed to the singletree and having their opposing ends overlapping, a pull cord or strap applied to an end portion of the middle lever, a spring secured to the middle lever and engaging with the inner end of one of the outer levers, and a stop between the other outer lever and the singletree, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN B. TAYLOR.

\Vitnesses:

J. M. GAsH, R. L. DOHERTY. 

